Paris is a beautiful historical city with amazing architecture, delicious food and friendly people. However, it can also be a very confusing place to navigate. With so many different neighbourhoods and arrondissements, each with its own distinct culture and atmosphere, getting your head around the areas of Paris can be quite a challenge.

There are two main ways Paris is split up:

Arrondissements (legal districts)
Neighbourhoods

The arrondissements are labelled 1-20 starting with 1 in the centre and spiralling further away in a clockwise direction. You can always see which arrondissement you are in by looking at any street sign in Paris.

We found the best way to navigate Paris is by neighbourhood rather than the arrondissements.

Map of Paris with our favourite neighbourhoods labelled

TL;DR

There isn’t much around the Eifell Tower apart from the tower itself, don’t stay there.
Le Marais and the Latin Quarter would be our places of choice to stay in with lots of lovely restaurants, bars and life around.
Saint Germain is a buzzy area for food and shopping
Paris centre is great for a visit to the Louvre and wondering around the amazing buildings but isn’t where the fun is at
The Champs-Élysées is overrated

The Quartier de Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois

(1st - 4th arrondissement) - Paris Centre

The first 4 arrondissements of Paris combine to form Paris centre which is where you will find the Louvre museum, other historic sights and the central business area of Paris.

In amongst the centre of Paris is our favourite little street Rue de Nil. It may be a short cobbled street but it’s a foodie lovers dream. Frenchie has practically taken over the street with Frenchie to go, Frenchie wine bar and Frenchie restaurant all within a stone’s throw.

You’ll also find Boulangerie-Pâtisserie Terroirs d'Avenir for tasty pastries, L'Arbre à Café for your coffee fix and Crèmerie Terroirs d'Avenir for your pick of french cheese.

Île de la Cité

(1st and 4th arrondissements)

The central island of Paris. Île de la Cité is perfect for finding a kerbside parisian cafe for a wine filled lunch watching the world go by.

Le Marais

(3rd and 4th arrondissements) - The Covent Garden of Paris

Le Marais is a historic neighbourhood known for its well-preserved architecture and trendy atmosphere. The area was once a swamp that was drained and developed in the 17th century, becoming a popular place for aristocrats to build elegant mansions. Today, these buildings house boutique shops, trendy cafes, and museums.

You can spend a few days wandering around Le Marais's streets and relaxing in some of its gardens. Place des Voges is the place to spot Paris' famous street performers.

We repeatedly returned to le marché des enfants rouge, a small covered food market with a great variety of food options, including The Butcher of Paris, for cheese, wine, steak and charcuterie and Chez Alain Miam Miam, for mouthwatering sandwiches.

Down closer to the river, you can find Rue de Rosiers for a large selection of middle eastern and falafel restaurants.

Latin Quarter

(5th arrondissement) - Student area

The Latin Quarter of Paris is home to some of the city's most famous historical sites, including Notre Dam and Panthéon. It’s the main student area of Paris and thus has a vibrant cultural scene, with plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants where you can experience the local cuisine and enjoy the vibrant nightlife.

Here, you will also find a beautiful square called Place de l'Estrapade, which is where Emily in Paris’ flat and Gabrielle’s restaurant are located.

Saint Germain des Prés

(6th arrondissement)

Saint Germain des Prés is a historic neighbourhood known for its artistic and intellectual history. It was once home to famous figures such as Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, and Pablo Picasso. The neighbourhood also boasts several notable landmarks, including the Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the famed Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots (very expensive cafés where high society gathers).

In addition to its rich cultural heritage, Saint Germain is also known for its luxury shopping and high-end dining options. Le Bon Marché is the place to visit if you want to experience a Parisien department store.

For a traditional french meal, head to Roger La Grenouille, where they serve delicious frogs leg lollipops alongside other French classics. Chez Nous was our favourite wine bar just off the river with a buzzy yet intimate vibe.

Eiffel Tower Neighbourhood

(7th arrondissement)

There isn’t much to do here apart from the Eiffel tower itself. In the day the tower isn’t very spectacular but in the night it really comes to life with it’s hourly sparkles. Sit on the Champs de Mars and enjoy it’s show with a bottle of wine and a picnic.

Pigalle

(9th arrondissement) - The Soho of Paris

Pigalle is known for its vibrant nightlife and notorious red-light district. However, the neighbourhood also boasts exceptional dining options. You’ve got the famous Moulin Rouge theatre, jazz bars, strip clubs and a vast selection of restaurants. It’s a great place to spend a night or two during your trip.

We love Frenchie Pigalle for a unique countertop dining experience, ‘sexy-trash’ they call it 👀.

Bastille

(11th arrondissement)

A more affordable area of Paris where apparently the ‘actual Parisians’ live. The famous Bastille prison is no longer there, but you may witness many large demonstrations at the roundabout where it once stood.

Marchè Bastille is a large open-air food market, not as touristy as the ones in other areas selling everything from roast chickens, to cheeses and vegetables.

Montmarte

(18th arrondissement)

Montmartre is known for its artistic history and picturesque streets. (Where most of the Mouline Rouge film was based in). The most notable landmark in the area is the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, which sits atop the highest point in the city; making it a great spot for a view of Paris!

The neighbourhood was once home to famous artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It continues to attract art lovers with its many galleries and museums. Visitors can also wander through the winding streets lined with charming cafes and shops. Head to Rue de l'Abreuvoir (the prettiest street in Paris) for your Insta shots next to the picturesque La Maison Rose.

Our favourite patisserie in Paris (Pain Pain) is located here, and we highly suggest grabbing some sweet treats from there and enjoying them whilst sitting on the steps of the Sacré-Cœur overlooking the city.

Montparnasse